9 Tips on How to Get Your Dog to Stop Eating Poop

Key Takeaways

• Identify the root causes of why your dog is eating poop (such as anxiety) and develop an action plan to tackle the triggers of the behavior. 

• Ensure your dog receives sufficient mental and physical stimulation daily. 

• Use positive reinforcement methods only and avoid punishing your dog when they eat feces, as it can only cement the habit. 

• Work on supervising and redirecting your pet when they resort to poop eating behavior. 

• Attempt to control their behavior by teaching them a “Leave it!” command or using a leash and a muzzle. 

Catching your furry companion eating poop can be perplexing or even a shocking experience. In fact, the behavior is much more common than many dog owners think. However, the fact that poop eating is a natural behavior doesn’t mean you should completely ignore it. 

Let’s explore together the best solution to stop a dog from eating poop. 

How to Stop a Dog from Eating Poop

If your pet’s poop-eating problem is spiraling out of control, you can help break the habit. Here’s a list of some practical tips to teach your furry companion not to eat feces. 

1. Clean up immediately

Many dogs eat poop right after they defecate. If this is the case, you must concentrate on prevention.

2. Supervise and redirect

Dogs typically defecate up to 1 hour after a meal, so you can predict with a high level of accuracy when the next potty break is coming. Supervise your pet when they go potty and keep them on a leash to distract them and clean up the feces preventatively. You can also use a reliable recall to distract them off-leash and give them a treat or a toy to keep them busy while you clean up the mess.

3. Positive reinforcement

Don’t overreact when you see your pooch picking up the stool after defecation. Use positive reinforcement strategies instead. Praise and reward your companion when they don’t eat feces or react to your commands and move away from it. 

4. "Leave It" command

The command “Leave It!” can be particularly helpful in the case of coprophagia.

5. Consult a vet or trainer

In some cases, coprophagia requires professional assistance. If the onset of the condition is sudden and you see other physical symptoms indicating a possible health issue, take your pet to a vet for further medical help. Additionally, dogs that have a persistent or obsessive tendency to coprophagia will benefit from cooperation with a canine behavioral expert. 

6. Address underlying causes

Dogs suffering from digestive issues or other underlying medical or psychological problems aren’t likely to stop their distructive habits unless these causes are appropriately addressed. If you suspect that coprophagia is a symptom of another condition, consult a veterinarian and a veterinary behaviorist first. 

7. Keep your dog busy

If you suspect your furry companion is consuming body waste to combat boredom, keeping them busy with physical and mental exercise can be beneficial. Stick to a daily walking schedule to provide them with an opportunity to sniff around and explore the world. Teach them different commands, play games, and offer a variety of toys to interact with. 

8. Consider a muzzle

While working on distraction and using praise and reward to discourage your dog from eating feces, you can additionally use a muzzle.

9. Don’t punish

Punishing your furry family member for eating feces is unlikely to stop the behavior. However, it can unintentionally reinforce the bad habit. It can contribute to your pet’s anxiety and fear, so that they start eating poop more in an attempt to hide it from you. 

Wrap Up

Poop eating behavior is not a dangerous behavior (in most cases), but it can lead to some undesirable outcomes and be off-putting for pet parents. To tackle the issue, ensure your dog doesn’t have any underlying medical conditions and work on redirecting the behavior. Adding extra mental stimulation is also often effective. 

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